Nope, it’s not a fun adventure comedy coming to a theater near you. (Though, shoot, that might kinda work!)
It’s one of the most confusing times in a writer’s career and I—like many—am right in the miasma of indecision.
I recently made the decision to go ahead and connect with an agent. Much like I decided, a decade ago, to go ahead and start submitting to a publisher. I remember, way back when, it was so monumental. The publisher was going to be so glad to hear from me. They’d be so pleased I chose them, when I could have chosen anyone. It was going to be a meaningful moment for them. Truly.
Yeah, I know. I’d seen too many movies.
Now that I’m older and wiser, I felt like I was going into the agent hunt with a little more consideration of reality. I asked my friends with agents what they’re experiences were. What was the criteria that they considered important in an agent? How on earth did they decide which agents to contact?
Then I went to the usual, Preditors and Editors and several other reputable lists. There was a LOT of literary agencies to consider. Then there were websites to read. And agency blogs. And FAQs.
It got blurry very quickly.
Most agents say the same things on their webpages. We don’t charge for reading. (Which is good.) We only accept email queries. (This is better, cause baby, I’m not made of money.) We have a professional team of agents who will—insert either “help develop your writing” or “help you reach the career you want”. Six to eight weeks for response.
I started wondering if site design had any bearing on agent selection. Believe it or not, that was a comforting thought. It’s not like an agent is going to put “we aren’t timely when we get back to you” on their site. Or anything out of the ordinary. So, I’m still perusing. Checking out who handles the field I’m hoping to sell in and using that to narrow the selection.
In the end, we all end up scattering the options by contacting several at the same time. Sometimes dozens. (I’ve heard of folks who have gotten over thirty rejections from agents at a time!) So, assuming I get a bite or two, I’m looking at still trying to figure out which agent is better or worse.
Which brings me to my question for those agented souls out there. What was the deciding factor for you when selecting your agent? Did you jump at the first offer? How might you choose between one or the other? What would make you say no to an agent?
I’ve been trying for several years; I have spates where I send off several queries in a week then sink back into a pit of depression about it for several months.
I write in a genre (gay historical) which is an automatic “NO” for many agents right off the bat, whether it be for “moral” reasons or the agent thinks that it’s a genre that won’t make them any money, so that’s one big problem.
What I look for on the agent’s site is an acceptance of gay issues, and if they handle both gay AND historical I often hope I’ll be in with more of a chance, but so far that’s not been the case.
I tend to go with “email submissions accepted” because - as you say - it’s hugely cost ineffective and time wasting to do it by post - and in these days of Green Issues you would really think that all publishers and editors would have this system in place already.
What I have found is that in the UK there are no (that I have found) agents who list gay fiction on their “want” list. I’d like to think that it’s something that doesn’t need to be said, but that’s me being optimistic. I would much prefer a British agent, but due to the above, I concentrate more on the American market - Brit agents are less likely to accept email queries.
I would probably jump at the first offer - if I got one!
I would also caution people not only to check Preditors and Editors, but also The Water Cooler as that often has very valuable advice on most agents.
by Erastes October 7th, 2008 at 4:11 amWhen I was deciding between agents, the key factor for me was passion and vision - I wanted an agent who not only loved my book but had a real vision for it and for my career as a whole (and, of course, a vision that felt right to me and matched with my own dreams).
Add that to the basics - responsiveness and a communication style that works for me. (I know some authors never want to hear about rejections or anything else until the book sells, but I really wanted to be kept up to date with all the stages. That’s fine with some agents, including my wonderful current agent, but other agents find it annoying - so it’s important to get that sorted out before committing to a professional relationship.)
by StephB October 7th, 2008 at 5:36 amI have to admit I jumped on the first offer, but it was from my dream agent. What clinched it for me: her enthusiasm (she loved my manuscript), her realistic expectations for my career (she didn’t promise to make me a bestseller straight out of the gate), her communications style (she spelled out what I could expect from her and encouraged me to ask questions), her sales record (particularly in my subgenre), and she was recommended to me by author friends (very important because I hadn’t even started querying, much less worked up the nerve to query her).
People say that if an agent contacts you out of the blue, run far, far away. Well, there’s an exception to every rule.
I’m glad I signed with her.
by Kathleen Dante October 7th, 2008 at 7:47 amI went on the great agent hunt,
(using the RWA list)
got rejection after rejection
until I got an ‘open’ response.
This agent said
she loved Breach Of Trust
(not called that at the time)
but it was too niche.
She suggested either
writing something more main stream
or
contacting small press publishers directly.
Since I write for fun,
I did the latter.
However, I will always have
by Kimber Chin October 7th, 2008 at 8:30 amthe utmost respect
for this agent.
She had the guts to verbalize
what other agents were likely thinking.
My agent found me. She was co-editing an anthology and bought one of my stories; she then asked if I was willing to prepare a proposal based on that story, which she then pitched for me until it sold.
Before that, I sold a lot of short stories; I didn’t need an agent for that.
by Victoria Janssen October 7th, 2008 at 8:46 amFor me the thing that tipped the scales was that she loved my work. Loved it enough to go out of her way to pursue me after she had read it. If you are hiring someone to be an advocate of your work, they’d better believe in the product.
Jess
by Jess Granger October 7th, 2008 at 8:58 amOkay, see, these are experiences and advice that help me! LOL! (I wonder if any agents have client testimonials…)
I see client lists, too, which I check out to see if any of their clients are in the market I want to reach.
Thanks for the ideas!
by Dee Tenorio October 7th, 2008 at 10:23 amDee
It can be worthwhile to talk to one or two of the agent’s clients, but as every author/agent relationship is different it might not be wholly indicative of how you’ll get on with her.
I had a couple of agents interested in my work before I signed. One was more similar to me in age, just starting out as an agent with an excellent agency, and one was very experienced and was offering me career advice from the off. She seemed interested in taking me on, not just a particular book. In the end I went with the more experienced agent, and I couldn’t ask for a better one because she’s always had an eye on the next contract and next step in my writing.
My agent doesn’t actually have a website–she says she gets more submissions than she can handle anyway–but I met her through a professional organisation and checked out her clients’ books.
I hope it goes brilliantly for you, Dee!
by Julie Cohen October 7th, 2008 at 10:57 amDee, during my second search, I made a list of my top top agents, those I dreamed about. Then I went to their sites, searched through their client base, looked to see if I knew any of them, if I did, I contacted those authors and asked about their experience with said agent.
I was very lucky that I have great writing friends, as I got a couple of referrals to a couple of my dream agents. And for me, it was third time the charm. The third agent I talked to, we hit it off right away. I talked to her on the phone and I asked her a ton of questions, which I had written down in front of me. She answered every single one of them. And every answer made me like her more and more.
I especially echo what Steph said. I wanted an agent that had passion for my work and a vision for my career. My agent has both in spades.
by Vivi Anna October 7th, 2008 at 11:07 amWhen I started looking, I read several agent blogs, read about them on the various places you mentioned, along with looking up the agents in Google and just seeing where they were mentioned and what people said about them.
I am always amazed by the people who send out thirty queries at a time because by the time I was done with my research I couldn’t find 30 agents I wanted to submit to period, let alone at a single shot.
I found my agent at a conference. She didn’t think she could sell the work I had submitted for critique, but she liked my voice. So at the critique session, I started talking to her about the project I was working on to see whether she thought it was more commercial. She did, and asked to see it when I had it done.
Conferences are great for that — not just meeting the agents in pitch or critique sessions, but hearing them on panels and seeing how they interact with others can teach you a lot about who they are and whether you would want to work with them.
by Laura October 7th, 2008 at 11:10 amPut a list of questions together for any agent who responds positively to your query. They should include everything from read times, editing style, payments, submissions, do they write, etc. Don’t accept any offer until they’ve answered all your questions to your satisfaction. Jumping at the first offer that comes along can be a BIG mistake…unless it’s your number one choice. Even then, I’d suggest having your questions ready. There are a lot of terrific agents out there, but just because they’re good doesn’t mean they’re the right agent for you.
Good Luck!
by Jordan October 7th, 2008 at 11:56 amYou’re getting some very good advice here, Dee. *and so am I*
by Melissa Blue October 7th, 2008 at 12:01 pmI KNOW, Mel!! LOL! I was hoping everyone with agent thoughts would benefit.
I’m definitely cutting and pasting into my “Do This, Dummy!” file.
Thanks everyone!
by Dee Tenorio October 7th, 2008 at 12:22 pmDee
I was very impressed with my agent’s professionalism. She responded to my first chapter with an immediate for the full, emailed again to let me know how excited she was to read it, and then went to my blog and emailed again to say how much she liked my voice. That was nice.
She has an incredibly strong sales record and was/is super communicative…plus she’s an awesome editor. She was my first choice, even tho I ended up having multiple other offers she was just the one.
You don’t have to automatically jump on the one agent that reps your genre, either. Many agents at some point look to expand into other genres and if you’re lucky, you get them right at that moment with your MS.
I think it all comes down to your intuition. If you feel (after speaking/emailing with the agent) that that agent is for you, take him/her.
by Jae Kae Bee October 7th, 2008 at 12:43 pmI would go for the first one who wanted me. purely because I wouldn’t submit to agents I *didn’t* want representing me in the first place.
by Elle October 7th, 2008 at 2:48 pmHere via Jennifer Jackson’s LiveJournal:
What was the deciding factor for you when selecting your agent?
I had three agents who offered to represent me. One of the questions I asked them was “What are your expectations for me? What do you need me to do?”
Two answered in very general terms, telling me (obviously) that they expected professionalism but that the kinds of stories I told or the length of time it took me to write them was up to me and was part of my process. They would work with whatever I needed.
The one I signed with had very straight-forward advice: a book a year is best, but every nine-months is better. Anti-hero protagonists make a book a harder sale for publishers and the reading public. And so on.
My point being, she didn’t leave things up to me and my comfort level. She had specific advice, and that’s what I was looking for.
That wasn’t the only factor in her favor, and the other agents were both terrific. I would have been happy to sign with either, esp. the one who was already familiar with my short fiction.
NB: I don’t write romance, so YMMV.
by Harry Connolly October 7th, 2008 at 2:55 pmNothing to add (since you’ve already recieved stellar advice here), except good luck, Deedle!
by vanessa jaye October 7th, 2008 at 5:07 pm“(I’ve heard of folks who have gotten over thirty rejections from agents at a time!”
Suddenly, I don’t feel so bad about the 3 I got yesterday. Thanks for the encouragement!
by Melissa Mead October 7th, 2008 at 5:58 pm
All things being equal, I would choose the agent I can foresee myself getting along with for a long, long time. That is, she’s got to be professional, but she (or he) must have a reputation for being kind even to those who are not making her money. 
by Kimber An October 7th, 2008 at 10:27 pmInteresting read. I’m always curious as to why writers take various agents.
by Mike October 7th, 2008 at 11:20 pmI think it’s important to remember that even when you select only those agents you feel would be perfect for you and your manuscript, the feeling may not be mutual. So don’t be surprised if your top ten picks show you the door. It’s hard to take, but the reality is that even if your book is fantastic and you believe it will be a best seller, this is a subjective business and your opinion might not be shared.
It took me about four months to find my agent, and though she wasn’t my original top choice, I did choose her from the 6 others who had requested my full manuscript. She’s not the type of agent who attends a lot of conferences, or reports sales to Publisher’s Marketplace, or does interviews for popular blogs, but she is the VP of the oldest, most prestigious literary agency in New York. It wasn’t until I actually spoke with her on the phone that I realized she was the one for me. So sometimes you can’t do advanced research on your “dream agent.” Sometimes you won’t know “the one” until you two actually connect.
Good luck, Dee!
by Karen Duvall October 10th, 2008 at 2:29 pm